Classes
Each class meets the AT requirement for a 3 credit (45 contact hours), graduate level course and is taught by credentialed faculty in their respective disciplines. (The psychodrama class also provides 45 training hours for psychodrama certification through the American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy).
We recommend that you take no more than two consecutive classes in order to allow adequate time for integration of new knowledge.* A registration discount of 10% is available on a second course taken during the summer session.
*(If your circumstances make travel and/or access to training prohibitive, individual cases will be considered for longer training periods. Please contact us at info@midwestdramatherapy.com for more information.)
We recommend that you take no more than two consecutive classes in order to allow adequate time for integration of new knowledge.* A registration discount of 10% is available on a second course taken during the summer session.
*(If your circumstances make travel and/or access to training prohibitive, individual cases will be considered for longer training periods. Please contact us at info@midwestdramatherapy.com for more information.)
Principles of Drama Therapy
Instructor: Nadya Trytan, MA, RDT/BCT
Sunday, June 7th - Saturday, June 13th
(3 credits)
An introductory survey course that provides an introduction to the field of drama therapy and the theories and principles involved in its practice through lecture, discussion, reading, and experience. An overview will be provided of the history of drama therapy, its sources in theatre and psychotherapy, and information on leading practitioners and their approaches/theories. The requirements for registry as a drama therapist and typical sites for practice will be examined, as well as basic ethical considerations for drama therapists.
Instructor: Nadya Trytan, MA, RDT/BCT
Sunday, June 7th - Saturday, June 13th
(3 credits)
An introductory survey course that provides an introduction to the field of drama therapy and the theories and principles involved in its practice through lecture, discussion, reading, and experience. An overview will be provided of the history of drama therapy, its sources in theatre and psychotherapy, and information on leading practitioners and their approaches/theories. The requirements for registry as a drama therapist and typical sites for practice will be examined, as well as basic ethical considerations for drama therapists.
Introduction to Psychodrama
Instructors: Cathy Burgess, Ph.D., TEP
Louisa Foster, Psy.D., RDT/BCT
Sunday, June 14th - Saturday, June 20th
(3 credits and/or 45 training hours through ABE)
This workshop will be rooted in the philosophy and methodology of J.L. Moreno, founder of psychodrama, sociometry, sociodrama, and sociatry. During our week together, we’ll use the principles and methods of sociometry to actively engage in the three-fold process of warm-up, action, and sharing (including de-roling). Throughout, we’ll explore the five instruments of psychodrama: director, protagonist, auxiliaries, audience, and stage. We’ll also learn key techniques, such as becoming an auxiliary ego, doubling, role playing, role reversing, and mirroring. Finally, together we’ll imagine ways psychodrama can be used with various populations. Though there will be didactic and may be some reflective (i.e. written) components to the workshop, primary learning will be experiential and embodied.
Instructors: Cathy Burgess, Ph.D., TEP
Louisa Foster, Psy.D., RDT/BCT
Sunday, June 14th - Saturday, June 20th
(3 credits and/or 45 training hours through ABE)
This workshop will be rooted in the philosophy and methodology of J.L. Moreno, founder of psychodrama, sociometry, sociodrama, and sociatry. During our week together, we’ll use the principles and methods of sociometry to actively engage in the three-fold process of warm-up, action, and sharing (including de-roling). Throughout, we’ll explore the five instruments of psychodrama: director, protagonist, auxiliaries, audience, and stage. We’ll also learn key techniques, such as becoming an auxiliary ego, doubling, role playing, role reversing, and mirroring. Finally, together we’ll imagine ways psychodrama can be used with various populations. Though there will be didactic and may be some reflective (i.e. written) components to the workshop, primary learning will be experiential and embodied.
Creative Arts Therapy
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Sunday, June 21st - Saturday, June 27th
(3 credits)
Through reading, discussion, and experience students gain understanding of a wide range of creative arts modalities and therapeutic approaches. Appropriateness of application of modalities and methods for various populations is discussed. Art (drawing, painting, sculpting), poetry, journaling, storytelling, dance/movement, sand play, music (instruments and singing) are explored and woven intermodally with drama.
In this course, participants are exposed to specialized disciplines beyond their current level of training and/or outside of the purview of Drama Therapy. Use of these modalities, without proper training and supervision, would exceed their scope of practice. Participants are responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with professional standards and limits of practice as defined by the ethics code, as well as licensing and credentialing laws in the state of practice.
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Sunday, June 21st - Saturday, June 27th
(3 credits)
Through reading, discussion, and experience students gain understanding of a wide range of creative arts modalities and therapeutic approaches. Appropriateness of application of modalities and methods for various populations is discussed. Art (drawing, painting, sculpting), poetry, journaling, storytelling, dance/movement, sand play, music (instruments and singing) are explored and woven intermodally with drama.
In this course, participants are exposed to specialized disciplines beyond their current level of training and/or outside of the purview of Drama Therapy. Use of these modalities, without proper training and supervision, would exceed their scope of practice. Participants are responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with professional standards and limits of practice as defined by the ethics code, as well as licensing and credentialing laws in the state of practice.
Advanced Elective: Introduction to Playback Theatre
Instructor: Liz Muckley, RDT/BCT, LCPC
Sunday, July 5th - Saturday, July 11th
(3 credits)
Students learn the method of Playback Theatre, founded by Jonathan Fox with Jo Salas and others. Life stories are shared and then re-enacted spontaneously by a team of actors and a musician. It is an educational and curative form of theatre, now practiced in community settings worldwide in more than 50 countries. Students practice roles of conductor and musician as well as actor, paying attention to positive group process and studying basic theory, including the relationship of playback theatre to therapeutic practice. Playback forms taught include fluid sculptures, pairs, and full stories.
Instructor: Liz Muckley, RDT/BCT, LCPC
Sunday, July 5th - Saturday, July 11th
(3 credits)
Students learn the method of Playback Theatre, founded by Jonathan Fox with Jo Salas and others. Life stories are shared and then re-enacted spontaneously by a team of actors and a musician. It is an educational and curative form of theatre, now practiced in community settings worldwide in more than 50 countries. Students practice roles of conductor and musician as well as actor, paying attention to positive group process and studying basic theory, including the relationship of playback theatre to therapeutic practice. Playback forms taught include fluid sculptures, pairs, and full stories.
Drama Therapy with Special Populations: Trauma-Affected Individuals & Communities
Instructor: Lucy McLellan, LPC, LCAT, RDT/BCT
Sunday, July 12th - Saturday, July 18th
(3 credits)
The nature of this course is both didactic and experiential in nature. Students will acquire biopsychosocial knowledge of traumatic stress as well as recognize the value of drama therapy approaches to provide distance and titrate re-exposure to traumatic events through action methods and play. In addition, participants will gain a range of practical skills for the application of drama as a trauma-informed tool for individuals and communities impacted by adversity. A strengths-based lens will be applied to learning that shifts attention from pathology (what is wrong with you) to concepts of rupture (what has happened) and resilience and repair (what has made you stronger). This course will support participants in their capacity to practice a drama therapy that draws from a range of theoretical perspectives including Role Theory, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-based psychotherapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Instructor: Lucy McLellan, LPC, LCAT, RDT/BCT
Sunday, July 12th - Saturday, July 18th
(3 credits)
The nature of this course is both didactic and experiential in nature. Students will acquire biopsychosocial knowledge of traumatic stress as well as recognize the value of drama therapy approaches to provide distance and titrate re-exposure to traumatic events through action methods and play. In addition, participants will gain a range of practical skills for the application of drama as a trauma-informed tool for individuals and communities impacted by adversity. A strengths-based lens will be applied to learning that shifts attention from pathology (what is wrong with you) to concepts of rupture (what has happened) and resilience and repair (what has made you stronger). This course will support participants in their capacity to practice a drama therapy that draws from a range of theoretical perspectives including Role Theory, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-based psychotherapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.